French paper calls Duterte a ‘serial killer’

Malacañang hit back at a French newspaper for describing President Duterte a “serial killer” over the rising cases of drug-related killings in the country, saying it was a display of irresponsible journalism.

“The comment is irresponsible and shows a lack of understanding of local conditions,” Presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella said in a text message.

Abella also criticized the French daily for its careless use of words in describing the President and his anti-drug campaign.

“It’s irresponsible the way they have said it and the way they carelessly used these words and their media power to think the Philippines in such a way,” Abella said in an earlier radio interview. “The best way I can say it is, it’s irresponsible,” he added.

Contrary to the French article critical of Duterte, Abella said majority of Filipinos actually support the President’s campaign against drugs based on a recent survey.

“I think the best picture “no, the best mirror of what’s happening in the Philippines is that iyong tao mismo, iyong taumbayan na apektado. But so far po, ang isang nakikita natin sa response ng mga tao, they have a very high appreciation of what the President is doing and his stance,” he said.

Duterte landed on the front page of a French publication called “The Liberation” amid his government’s brutal crackdown on illegal drugs. The headline depicted Duterte as a “serial killer president.” (Genalyn D. Kabiling)